Adams and Reese LLP

2017 Vault Rankings

Adams and Reese LLP at a Glance

Uppers

“Pro bono encouraged”

“Reasonable hours”

“Substantive work”

Downers

“Low bonuses”

“No transparency”

“Little training”

About Adams and Reese LLP

Established in 1951, esteemed Southern law firm Adams and Reese
follows its "Out in Front" motto. With specialties in litigation,
corporate and special business services, the firm serves Fortune
100 companies, celebrities and an array of regional, national and
international clients.

Southern Stronghold

Adams and Reese LLP was founded in 1951 in New Orleans. Focused
on growth within its regional footprint, the firm has expanded
steadily over the years, adding offices in Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. In 2013, the firm
continued its growth in Florida, adding an office in
Jacksonville. Additionally, the firm furthered its regional
expansion with its first location in South Carolina. The
Columbia office was opened on June 1. Adams and Reese is managed
regionally, with no official "headquarter" office, and it has 17
offices in seven states, plus Washington, DC.

Adams and Reese attorneys don't need to brag about themselves;
other people do it for them. The firm's lawyers are permanently
camped out on lists like Best Lawyers in America,
Super Lawyers and Chambers. The firm itself has
received a slew of recognitions in everything from practice areas
to diversity and employee satisfaction. The firm's diversity
efforts have earned it a spot as one of the "Top 100 Firms for
Diversity" by MultiCultural Magazine and one of the "Top
200 Firms for Women Equity Partners" by the American
Lawyer, along with numerous other diversity recognitions,
including the Diversity Award of Excellence by Corporate Counsel
Women of Color. Additionally, Adams and Reese received the Law Firm
Diversity Award from the National Bar Association at its Annual
Meeting in 2013. Moreover, the firm was rated one of the "Best
Places to Work" in New Orleans nine years in a row and was named a
"Healthiest Employer" in Birmingham, Memphis and Tampa by those
cities' Business Journals.

Bringing Movies to the Bayou

Adams and Reese attorneys in Louisiana don't just go to the
movies; they bring them there. Adams and Reese helped the Louisiana
state government to draft the 2002 Louisiana Motion Picture
Incentive Act, which provided tax credits to production companies
which filmed in the state. These credits could be purchased by
Louisiana taxpayers and, in return, adjusted their income tax. The
innovative act established a model now widely used by movie
producers to certify tax credits.

But movies are only one facet of Adams and Reese's niche in the
entertainment industry. The firm's Entertainment practice has
served Grammy-winning musicians, recording artists and production
companies, authors, illustrators and personal managers, and it has
negotiated everything from contracts, royalties for deceased
musicians' estates, tours, copyrights, endorsements, contests and
sweepstakes.

HUGS for All

Who knew lawyers could be so warm and fuzzy? Adams and Reese
takes the notion of Southern hospitality one step further by giving
back to its community. In 1988, Adams and Reese founded a corporate
philanthropy program known as HUGS (Hope, Understanding, Giving,
and Support). The HUGS Program celebrated its 25th Anniversary in
2013 and New Orleans Partner Mark Surprenant, who serves as the
firm's Pro Bono Liaison and was the founder of HUGS, received the
prestigious Loving Cup Award from the Times-Picayune in New Orleans
for his dedication to philanthropy and pro bono work.

The firm is widely praised for its mandatory pro bono policy,
which requires each attorney to do 20 hours of pro bono work a
year. Adams and Reese attorneys actively involve themselves in
community projects, such as donating Easter baskets to needy
families, serving as special counsel for the Camellia Square
Economic Development District in New Orleans and pro bono counsel
for domestic violence victims and creating a defense fund for
veterans suffering from PTSD, among many others.